County jobs facing cuts next year

Agencies will have to trim spending by at least $94 million

February 5, 2008|By Scott Wyman Staff writer

Regional parks, the Broward Sheriff's Office and other county agencies will have to cut spending next year at least $94 million in light of last month's property tax relief vote and the state of the nation's economy.

County commissioners today will beginning discussing how to make the cuts, but their top administrators are warning layoffs are likely and that no services will be immune. The cutbacks potentially could go even deeper if last year's lackluster real estate market leads to a decline in the taxable value of property in the area.

"We are going to try not to eliminate what needs to be provided, but to scale back," County Mayor Lois Wexler said.

State economists have projected that the county will lose $55 million as a result of the constitutional amendment that voters approved. That change doubles the homestead exemption on all but school taxes and allows homeowners to take their tax breaks with them when they move.

County budget planners say the tax relief package is just part of the problem facing county finances.

Sales tax revenue is down $4 million, aid from the state is down $1 million, interest income is down $4 million and money made from recording fees on legal documents is down $7 million. Also, fuel costs are up $6 million, and $4 million more is needed to open new parks and libraries that are being built.

Added together, it means as much as 10 percent of the county's $1.3 billion general operations budget must be trimmed. Other agencies like the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades are run separately using their own revenue.

The budget planners base their $94 million cut on the tax roll remaining level. If there is a 5 percent decline in the tax base, an additional $40 million would need to be cut.

Commissioners have said they plan to require the Broward Sheriff's Office to share equally in the cuts this year. When they cut $90 million from this year's spending to pay for an earlier round of state tax relief, law enforcement was not hit as hard.

The Sheriff's Office comprises almost half of the county's general operations. Libraries are 7 percent, parks 3 percent and aid to mass transit 5 percent.

Commissioners have mentioned cutting the hours that libraries and parks are open, eliminating community shuttle bus service and privatizing some services. Decisions on what to do will come over the next eight months.

Scott Wyman can be reached at swyman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4511.

ONLINE

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